UCLan cyclists break Chris Hoy record

Student cyclists from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) have smashed a track record set by Olympian Sir Chris Hoy 16 years ago.

The four man UCLan team; James Claydon, Chris Nicholson, Julian Pearson and Martin Woffindin set a new record and won the gold medal in the men’s team pursuit at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Track Cycling Championships 2013 in Glasgow.

The UCLan team’s time of 4:37:04 broke the 4:38.375 record set by Heriot-Watt University in 1997 when the six-time Olympian Hoy was a student at the university. The team pursuit event is a four kilometre race against the clock.

UCLan cyclist 20-year-old Martin Woffindin said it was an “amazing feeling” to break the record and win gold in the final against the University of Strathclyde.

“It was a big shock as we didn’t come close to breaking it during qualifying and then it all came together in the final.”

The sports coaching student commented: “It was a big shock as we didn’t come close to breaking it during qualifying and then it all came together in the final. Our team mates were watching on the clock and they knew with a kilometre to go that we had a chance of breaking the record so it was very tense and exciting.”

Team mate and sports technology student 21-year-old Julian Pearson said: “To find out that Sir Chris Hoy was one of the people who held the record before we broke it was astounding and to think we are on par with someone like him at our age is a great feeling.”

“To find out that Sir Chris Hoy was one of the people who held the record before we broke it was astounding”

James Claydon, who began track cycling with Ribble Valley Juniors at a young age, added: “I am really proud to be part of the winning team. Those who supported us during the race provided that little extra motivation we needed to push ourselves a bit further.”

Over 25 universities and colleges from around the country took part in the event at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow. The UCLan Students’ Union Cycling Club attracts both experienced and beginner cyclists and has over 25 members.